Air regulator for refrigerators



Dec. 21 1926.

1,611,782 E. S. RYERSON AIR REGULATOR FR REFRIGERATORS 2 sheets-sheerl Filed June 23, i925 INVENTORY [/yf J @673022 K .BY

Dec. 21 1926. Y 4 E. S. RYERSON AIR REGULATOR FOR REFRlGERAToRs 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 23 1925 INVENTOR J @www ATTORNEY Patentecl Dec. Z1, 1926.

UNTEE ELLOF S. RYERSON, OF DAYTN, 'WASHING-TON.

AIR REGULATGR FR REFREGERATRS.

Application lerl Tune 23 This invention relates to air regulators for refrigerators and has as one of its ohjects to provide an air regulator that is operable under thermostatic control.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air regulator that will automatically permit the escape of the warmer air from refrigerators.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air regulator that will provide for a circulation of air in the warmer air zone of the refrigerator.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air regulator for refrigerators, and a means whereby the actual interior te1nperature of a refrigerator may be observed from the exterior, and arranging the means to be unaected by the temperature of the outside atmosphere.

With these and other objects of the invention in view reference is now had to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a refrigerator car, with one of its sides removed to disclose the interior;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a refrigerator of smaller capacity, and having one of its sides removed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the ,air regulator;

Fig.-4 isa plan view of the case;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the case showing the relative position of the parts;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of a yielding Contact point;

Fig. `7 is a plan view of the insulated hood;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View of a fragment of the hood showing the relative positions of the window and the thermometer; and

Fig. 9 shows the wiring diagram.

Having reference to the drawings like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and the numeral 1 refers to a refrigerator car having the usual side walls 2, a ceiling 3, the latter being also classed as a side wall, ice storage tanks 4 having a drip pan 5 that is provided with an outlet 6, a bulkhead 7, a screen wire guard 8, deflecter plates 9 mounted in the walls of the bulkheads, and cross pieces 10, with an inlet 11 sealed in the usual manner with a wedge shaped cover 12 (shown dotted in Fig. 1).

The loading space of the car is confined between the two hulkheads 7 and the course of the air currents is represented by the ar 1925. Serial No. 33,965.

rows, these showing thatthe circulation of air is downward through the ice storagel tanks and upward through a portion only of the loading space, and leaving space 13 in the upper center of the refrigerator without circulation which will he termed the warmer air Zone.

The warmer air zone now constitutes that portion of the space in a refrigerator where there is little or no circulation of air, and where no Vcirculation occurs it is obvious that the temperature will be higher' than surrounding air circulating over ice.

`When a refrigerator is first iced, and with the temperature of a refrigerator or its contents relaively high, the circulation will be more rapid due to the greater difference of the density of the air.

This is true whether in a refrigerator car, or other refrigerator (see Fig. 2), and hence to facilitate circulation in this Zone and thus create a uniform temperature throughout the car, and in a manner that theA outside temperature will have no effect on its operation an air regulating device 15 is devised that consists of a case 16 provided with a flange 17 wherewith to secure the case to the side wall 3 of the refrigerator and in the warmer air zone, and having a closure 18 that may be secured in the closed position to prevent molestation, secureinent being obtained by a lock and key (not shown), or by inserting a padlock through orifices 19 formed in the eomplemental lips 2O of the case and closure.

The case is preferably rounded at one end, as at 21, to conform to the shape of other parts of the device and carries a dischargeV duct 22 positioned concentrically with the rounded end above mentioned, and is eX- tended through the wall of the refrigerator .to form a means of communication between the warmer air Zone of the refrigerator and the outside atmosphere.

The duct is preferably tubular in section and is provided with a damper 23 arranged to freely operate therein to close the duct tightly under certain conditions to be eX- plained.

Mounted within the case is an operating mechanism 24 for operating the damper and this mechanism consists of a frame 25 enclosing the usual clockworks movement, which may be wound by a crank 2,6 that may be removed when not yin use, with an indicator 27 attached to the frame to denote whether theA spring of the movement is wound, and including a tripping wheel 28 portrayed diagrammatically in Fig. 9.

A shaft 29 projects from one side ol the traine and carries a crank 30, and a connecting rod 3l connects this crank with a complemental crank 32 attached to the damper 23 for operating that member.

A s the operating mechanism is old in the .art turther Vdescription is deemed unnecessary.

Attached, preferably to the yoperating mechanism, is a thermostat 33 comprising the usual temperature controlled coil 84 attached to a post 35, and having a depending ar'm 3,6 positioned with its tree end movable between two points 37 and 38, the latter points being attached to a movable plate 39 pivotally attached to the 4case 40 of the thermostat, ,at t-he point 41, by which latter means the points may be movable with respect to the arm. By this movement and ywith a pointer l2 arranged to move with the plate, and operating in conjunction with a `gauge 4.3, the temperature at which the arm will contact either of the points 37 or 38 may be readily observed.

The post 35 and the two points 37 and 38 are provided with binding posts (not shown) and electric wires connect these binding posts with other parts in and for the following manner and purpose:

The above mentioned tripping wheel 28 t'orms part et the elockworlrs of the operating ,mechanism and consists ot' a wheel rotatable with a shaft tlzthat is rotated by said clockworks. The wheel is provided with diametrically opposite projections ,45 and positioned tor engagement with these projections is a pivotally mounted dog 46 that is normally maintained in the path of the projections by a spring 417.

Attached to the dog is an armature fl8, and in magnetic communication therewith is an electromagnet 49 coupled in a circuit from the batteries 50 to the wheel 28.

The wheel 28 also carriesl a spring .contact point 51 and positioned on 4either side ot the wheel are other contact Ypoints 52 and 53 with which the spring contact point 5l forms a contact as this point revolves with the wheel.

ln operation the pointer 4:2 is set at a predetermined point on the `gauge 43 which moves the two points 37 and 38 to a position to be contacted by the arm 3G at the temperature desired, as above mentioned, when `a circuit is completed from the batteries 50 to the ypost 35, down the arm 36 to the point 38, to the contact point 53, through the spring contact point 5l and wheel 28 to the electromagnet 49, then back to the batteries completing the circuit.

The diagram in 9 shows this circuit j ustI before the instant of completion, or

beflorc the dog i6 has been drawn to the magnet, and with the completion ot the rircuit the wheel will be released by the magnet when it will start rotating under the influence of the operating mechanism.

rl`he spring contact point 5l now breaks contact with the point 58 thus breaking the circuit and releasing the armature. The

iosition in the path oi. the next succeeding projection, the wheel stopping as the projection is intercepted by the dog with the spring iontact point contacting the contact point 52.

The operating Amechanism is now set for further operation that will not take place however until the change ot temperature has moved the arm over to the other point 37 when the dog will again be withdrawn and the wheel again permitted to rotate.

It is now obvious Y,that the wheel is rotated one half a revolution and by properly adjusting the cranks 30 and .32 and the connecting rod 3l the damper will .beopened with one halt a revolution of the wheel and closed with the succeeding halt rotation.

lhe thermostat is positioned adjacent to the duct and the bottom 54 of Ithe case is provided with perfor-ations 55 to enable the air ot' the warmer air zone to enter and thereby atleet the thermostat by the actual temperature of the zone.

The gauge is brought adjacent to the closure 18 Ylor convenience ot operation and vvisibility and is so positioned to be accessible when the closure is opened.

To simplify the renewal ot' the batteries and to compel a proper connection ot the batteries in the circuit to be made yielding contact points 56 are provided that consists ot an elongated tongue 57 'hinged to the frame oi the operating machanisn'i 'by nieans ot uprights 58, the hinge vportion ot the vsirine now restores the do(T to its initial tongue forming a shoulder 59 that will bear against the spring (50, the shoulder and spring being arranged to exert a pressure ot the tongue against the binding posts (il ot the batteries and also to maintain the tongue in an upright position when changing hatteries.

The .tongues are also ,equipped wih depending pieces 62 which reet on either eide et the binding posts, while the yielding contact pointe are spaced apart to require proper positioning of the batteries before contact can be made. when the depending pieces will prevent .the batteries trom rotating out olf contact.

Another object of this means of' Contact is to insure that contact is made properly beiore the clos'ure is closed, for, with the tongues raised, they will project outward in a manner to prevent the closure troni properly closing until they are properly seated on the binding posts.

lll)

Lemma Positioned ou the exterior of the refrigerator and extended to connect with the case lo is au insulated hood (i3 consisting of a hood shaped device havinga l'lzinge (Si whereby it may be secured to the refrigerator, and having its inner extending portion (35 projceled to register' with the rounded end 2l of the ca'e, By this arrangenient the air of the warmer air Zone will enter through the above mentioned perloi'ations and will thereby communicate thc identical temperature of the warmer air to the interior of the hood.

The hood is insulated by the use of double walls, although other means of insulation may be used, and is for the purpose of preventing the temperature of the outside atmosphere from allecting the interior temperature of the hood.

How to observe and note the interior teniperature of the warmer air zone from the vterior a window 6T is placed in the hood, and attached to the :inside of the hood adjacent to the windows a thermometer 68.

'if he window mav consist of glass suitably .secured in the wall of the hood` and the hood is slanted at the point of the window to provide for ready visibility of the thermometer that is secured to the hood by means of clips G9.

For convenience in assembling an orifice is provided in the top of the hood to receive the upper end of the chiot, and this with the upturned edOe 7l of the bottom of the case will properly secure the duct in the assembly.

A brace 72 may be added if deemed necessary to prevent the duct rotating with the movement of the damper by the operating means.

The hood when used on refrigerator cars will preferably be positioned to' one side of the ruiming board 73, as shown in Fig. 7, so that the thermometer may be observed therefrom.

ln use the regulator is installed in the upper central portion of the refrigerator and the thermostat is set to operate at the desired temjierature.

rThe refrigerator is now loaded, the doors sealed against the outside temperature, and the ice storage spaces filled with ice.

New assuming that. the thern'iostat is set at degrees, the ice absorbs the heat of the refrigerator, a circulation being created by the ilil'i'erence in density of the air in the dill'erent parts of the refrigerator.

As above not-ed the circulation occurs short ot' the warmer air zone, and with the temperature of the air above the 35 degrees the thcrnmstat will cause the release of the operating mechanism that will then open the damper when the air will move through the duct and thus start a circulation in the zone.

The circulated air will now become mixed with the cooler air el the refrigerator and thus will have its temperature lowered until when itA reaches the S5 degree marl; the dai'nper will close and thus r cooled air providing a uniform temperature throughout the refrigerator.

Vvith the damper open the air,1 willv nieve into or ont of the duct, depending upon the relative density of the outside and inside air, and thisl movement will be superiuduced by any movement of the air on the outside, caused by a breeze or otherwise, a very slight movement having the desired effect on rcfrigerators of small capacity, while in the refrigerator cars the movement of the car will create the necessary breeze with its attenda-nt movement of the air.

lVherea refrigerator is sealeifl, as iu a ref :trigerator car in transit, its interior temperature may now be noted without breaking it.i real, the actual temperature may be obtained, and by this means frequent and expensive reicing will become unnecessary, while the temperature will be maintained more nearly normal and uniform throughout the whole car, normal being construed as being the temperature at which the thermostat is set.

The outlets 6 of the drip pipes are made use of to destroy any tendency to a partial vacuum that might be created through the duct, and which might interfere with the movement of the air through the duct.

Having thus described my invention, l claim- 1. In an air regulator for refrigerators, a case positioned in the warmer air zone of said refrigerator and provided with a closure, a discharge duct positioned within said case and extended to provide communication between 'the warmer air zone of the refrigerator and the outside atmosphere, and provided with a damper, an operating mechanism mounted in said case in operable connection with said damper, a thermostat control positioned adjacent to said duct and electrically connected to said operating mechanism, contact points attached to said operating mechanism to provide proper electrical connections, and an insulated hood mounted on said refrigerator and projected inward to register with said ease.

2. In an air regulator for refrigerators, a ease positioned in the warmer air Zone of the refrigerator and provided with a closure, a discharge duct positioned within said case and extended to provide eonnnunicatioii between said warmer air Zone and the outside atmosphere, and provided with a damper, an operating mechanism mounted in said case in operable connection with said damper, a thermostat cont-rol positioned in said case adjacent to said duct and electrically connected to said operating mechanism, yielding contact points attached to said operating mechanism to provide proper electrical conaia the now lll) iii

neotion of batteries in the eieetrieI circuit ot' said thermostat, and an insulated hood mounted on seid refrigerator and projected inward to register with said oase.

3. In an air regulator for refrigerators, a ease positioned in the interior of the refrigerator, means to permit the air of Said refrigerator to enterpsaid cese, a discharge duct extended through said case t0 provide communication between the air of said refrigerator and the outside atmosphere,

means to close Said duet, means to thermoetatioaiiy control said closing means, the thermostat of said control being` mounted in the case in a position to be effect-ed by the temperature of the air entering seid Cese, an insulating hood mounted on the outside of said refrigerator in a manner to insulate the device from the outside temperature and to contain air that has entered said oase.

In testimony Whereot` I atiix ymy signature.

ELLOF S. RYERSON. 

